Bioshock Hands-on Preview - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 18th Jul 2007, 12:28

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/...s-on_preview/1

Bioshock is possibly one the most long awaited and anticipated PC games since Duke Nukem Forever was first announced (still waiting, 3D Realms), so join us as we go hands-on with the soon-to-be-released Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game.

DougEdey · 18th Jul 2007, 12:39

Definately glad I have a 360 for this.

Tim S · 18th Jul 2007, 12:44

I was getting the cold sweat just watching Joe playing the game down at Take 2's offices - the intensity is top notch and it's high adrenaline... I had a quick play as well and I have to say that it's shaping up to be truly awesome. Think of the first 30 mins of Doom 3 for the kind of level of atmosphere and intensity, but this is more dramatic, doesn't tail off (based on what we've seen so far) and there is a story too!

My only concern at the moment is that there is 20 hours of story to fill and I'm personally not sure how the story will evolve over the game. I'm guessing there will be some twists and turns along the way.

DougEdey · 18th Jul 2007, 12:49

Was Doom3 meant to have a story?

One thing is that from what I've made out from Bioshocks interviews is that if you save the Little sisters you get a big reward at the end. You also get a whopping 100 points for saving them all on the 360. Full list of achievements here

A question which comes up with those achievements is what is this "invention" thing?

BioSniper · 18th Jul 2007, 12:54

I can't wait but I'm still deciding on PC or 360, though It'll probably have to be 360.

Tim S · 18th Jul 2007, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey

Was Doom3 meant to have a story?

I think it was, but it wasn't exactly fantastic... after the first 30-45 minutes, Doom 3's gameplay didn't evolve or change - the surprise of a monster being behind every door (or in almost every dark corner) just wore off. The AI appears to have free roam in Bioshock, so while there are a few "scripted" parts of the game (i.e. the bosses) where you meet with the enemies is practically randomised and time/instance-based.

CardJoe · 18th Jul 2007, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey

Was Doom3 meant to have a story?

One thing is that from what I've made out from Bioshocks interviews is that if you save the Little sisters you get a big reward at the end. You also get a whopping 100 points for saving them all on the 360. Full list of achievements here

A question which comes up with those achievements is what is this "invention" thing?

Invention was something we didn't get to look at, but Research was something we had a fiddle with. In System Shock 2 you could get bits of dead enemies occasionally and then, if your skill was high enough and you had access to the right chemicals, you could learn more about them and do more damage. It's much more simplified in Bioshock, so that you don't have to run back 5 levels to find a chemical storeroom thank god, and instead of the ss2 way you use a camera to take photos of different enemies. The photos can then be analysed to let you find weaknesses, which you can build up on by taking more photos. Unfortunately, it means you have to whip out the camera and stop to focus it in the middle of a gunfight.

Also, as Tim points out, the enemies have a virtual economy. They don't patrol the same paths or respawn or loiter, instead they wander around intelligently on the search for things that they want, whether thats weapons, health, ADAM or fresh corpses to harvest.

HugoB · 18th Jul 2007, 13:06

Joe's right about the Spanish Inquisition when he and Tim arrived back!! I think I must have spent about an hour just asking question after question about the game!!

Still have more...

tm36usa · 18th Jul 2007, 13:39

Cant wait for this game, im pretty sure im more excited for this game than crysis, although both should be spectacular! Thanks for the Preview bit!

will. · 18th Jul 2007, 13:40

I can just never get along with FPS's with analogue sticks.. So its going to have to be PC for me... Although I may just wait until there is a retail version review as I would prefer it to be harder rather than easy.

Tim S · 18th Jul 2007, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by will.

I can just never get along with FPS's with analogue sticks.. So its going to have to be PC for me... Although I may just wait until there is a retail version review as I would prefer it to be harder rather than easy.

I thought that too, but I only played the 360 version and while it was a "different" experience, it was certainly not completely alien. I'm a through-and-through PC gamer when it comes to first person shooters, but I was impressed with how well this played on the 360.

Nature · 18th Jul 2007, 15:10

Do you know what settings you played it on... Something like 2560x1600 with 16aa&af?

Tim S · 18th Jul 2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nature

Do you know what settings you played it on... Something like 2560x1600 with 16aa&af?

On the PC version, it's still going through QA so we played at 1280x1024 I think. I'm not sure what the exact system specifications were... all we were told was "dual core, 2GB RAM and an 8800". That could be anything from an 8800 GTS 320 to an 8800 Ultra but judging by the size of the case, I'd be surprised if it was anything more than a GTS 640.

poenanie · 18th Jul 2007, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S

On the PC version, it's still going through QA so we played at 1280x1024 I think. I'm not sure what the exact system specifications were... all we were told was "dual core, 2GB RAM and an 8800". That could be anything from an 8800 GTS 320 to an 8800 Ultra but judging by the size of the case, I'd be surprised if it was anything more than a GTS 640.

And was the game running at the highest settings ( AA FSAA etc .. ) , and what framerate did that give ? Rlly hoping my new pc can max this out at 1680 x 1050 :x !

Regards

Cupboard · 18th Jul 2007, 16:53

The AI sounds a bit like the AI was supposed to be like in Oblivion... untill they removed it

It had got me really excited too!

Bungle · 18th Jul 2007, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S

I was getting the cold sweat just watching Joe playing the game

That comment will probably sell more copies than the preview.

HugoB · 18th Jul 2007, 18:37

How about:

I got a cold sweat just hearing Tim talk about watching Joe play the game

oddball walking · 18th Jul 2007, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel

How about:

I got a cold sweat just hearing Tim talk about watching Joe play the game

Or how about I got a cold sweat from reading the preview

kickarse · 18th Jul 2007, 20:46

This reminds me of Alice on marijuana... and Alice was on heroine...

Bungle · 18th Jul 2007, 21:14

You gotta admire the enthusiasm of the review team. Tim's comment made me think he had discovered a new drug.

One user/abuser

signed up.

18th Jul 2007, 12:28	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Bioshock Hands-on Preview http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/...s-on_preview/1 Bioshock is possibly one the most long awaited and anticipated PC games since Duke Nukem Forever was first announced (still waiting, 3D Realms), so join us as we go hands-on with the soon-to-be-released Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

18th Jul 2007, 12:39	#2
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Definately glad I have a 360 for this. __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

18th Jul 2007, 12:44	#3
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	I was getting the cold sweat just watching Joe playing the game down at Take 2's offices - the intensity is top notch and it's high adrenaline... I had a quick play as well and I have to say that it's shaping up to be truly awesome. Think of the first 30 mins of Doom 3 for the kind of level of atmosphere and intensity, but this is more dramatic, doesn't tail off (based on what we've seen so far) and there is a story too! My only concern at the moment is that there is 20 hours of story to fill and I'm personally not sure how the story will evolve over the game. I'm guessing there will be some twists and turns along the way. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

18th Jul 2007, 12:49	#4
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Was Doom3 meant to have a story? One thing is that from what I've made out from Bioshocks interviews is that if you save the Little sisters you get a big reward at the end. You also get a whopping 100 points for saving them all on the 360. Full list of achievements here A question which comes up with those achievements is what is this "invention" thing? __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

18th Jul 2007, 12:54	#5
BioSniper I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere in the south Posts: 3,460	I can't wait but I'm still deciding on PC or 360, though It'll probably have to be 360. __________________ My Flickr :: Bit-tech Flickr Wii: 1792 1527 2926 7945 :: Xbox Live: BioSnipr :: PSN: Biosnipr

18th Jul 2007, 13:06	#8
HugoB H to the U to the G to the O to the B Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ThrustingReviews HQ Posts: 1,203	Joe's right about the Spanish Inquisition when he and Tim arrived back!! I think I must have spent about an hour just asking question after question about the game!! Still have more... __________________ TrustedReviews.com - things I write about for a job

18th Jul 2007, 13:39	#9
tm36usa I am a Dremel Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Deep Underground Posts: 1,593	Cant wait for this game, im pretty sure im more excited for this game than crysis, although both should be spectacular! Thanks for the Preview bit! __________________ Project Double Helix 01110100011011010011001100110110011101010111001101 100001

18th Jul 2007, 13:40	#10
will. A motorbike of jealousy! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Yorkshire! Posts: 4,406	I can just never get along with FPS's with analogue sticks.. So its going to have to be PC for me... Although I may just wait until there is a retail version review as I would prefer it to be harder rather than easy. __________________ work \| play \| blog PS3 & 360: willblack Flickr my twitter. Last.FM Check out my Last.FM & iToggle & Nav-o-Matic jQuery plugins.

18th Jul 2007, 15:10	#12
Nature Supermodder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jinan, China Posts: 417	Do you know what settings you played it on... Something like 2560x1600 with 16aa&af? __________________ Peace, Love, Empathy, Respect, Generosity, Smiles, and Hugs

18th Jul 2007, 16:53	#15
Cupboard I'm not a modder. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds/Durham Uni Posts: 1,848	The AI sounds a bit like the AI was supposed to be like in Oblivion... untill they removed it It had got me really excited too! __________________ i7 920, 8800GTS 512, 6GB Corsair all in an Intel DX58SO; 3*320GB RAID5; CM Stacker Samsung Q45.

18th Jul 2007, 18:37	#17
HugoB H to the U to the G to the O to the B Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ThrustingReviews HQ Posts: 1,203	How about: I got a cold sweat just hearing Tim talk about watching Joe play the game __________________ TrustedReviews.com - things I write about for a job

18th Jul 2007, 20:46	#19
kickarse Ultramodder Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Holyoke, MA Posts: 1,281	This reminds me of Alice on marijuana... and Alice was on heroine... __________________ Top 5 Listening to Now - A Second To Last - Dying Against Your Will Rock Kills Kid - Paralyzed Zero State Reflex - I'm Splintering Hot Hot Heat - Middle of No Where - www.nerges.net

18th Jul 2007, 21:14	#20
Bungle Rainbow Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 999	You gotta admire the enthusiasm of the review team. Tim's comment made me think he had discovered a new drug. One user/abuser signed up. __________________ The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. " Tom Clancy